Monday, Day 5

Homework:

Study Link 10.4 

Math Boxes, pg 345 if incomplete from class

I hope everyone was able to have a wonderful weekend despite the chilling rain on Sunday;
 hopefully Saturday just nice enough to get us through!!

Thursday, Day 3

Homework:

Study Link 10.2

Expressions introduction 

Math Boxes, if unfinished from class

As we are getting into Algebra more, I found the Expression sheet to get the kids used to the idea of there not always being an "answer" and doing math with letters. It gives them a word problem, c divided by 7; what is expected for a response is c/7. 

Wednesday, Day 2

Homework:

Study Link 10.1

Pan- Balance Equations Worksheet (2 sided)

The equations worksheet is a little of a sneak peek at what tomorrows lesson has in store for us. It is not from Everyday Math, so unfortunately it is not anywhere on the Family Letter. BUT- the key is to look at both parts of each problem (every problem has an A and a B) and see what you know vs. what you need to find out. 

For Example:

Problem A                                                                Problem B

Looking at the 2 parts, we can see that we can't solve A 

until we find out how many marbles = one coin.

Looking at part B, we can see that one coin weighs the same as 7 marbles.

Back to part A, the coin on the left side can be replaced with 7 marbles. Then whatever is taken away from the left side HAS TO ALSO BE taken away from the right. Once the 7 marbles from each side have been removed, we are left with the amount of marbles equivalent to the weight of the block. 

Problem #5 is tricky! The amount of coins equivalent to the weight of a block must be found first!!

During science, we reflected on our observations yesterday. Teams shared their interesting discoveries and questions. David made a GREAT connection to the design of our vehicles vs. the design of NASCAR; which led to a discussion about the aerodynamics of vehicles, footballs and airplanes. 

Lots of great vocabulary showed up again in our discussion today!!

Have a wonderful, (and safe) snowy Wednesday :)

Classroom Expectations

Right up at the front, like a shiny new penny! 

As I said before, I am doubly excited to have this opportunity because I have been learning all these great discussion strategies through Talk Science and hadn't yet been able to utilize them. Throwing questions back to the students, allowing them to answer each other's questions to use the language we have been learning; to state their opinions or predictions with support are just a few of the strategies I have brought in so far!

Cannot wait to continue digging deeper :) 

Book Fair Family Night

Due to incliment weather, the school has POSTPONED this evenings event! 

It is rescheduled for Thursday evening! 

Tuesday, Day 1

No math homework this evening, I figured they deserved a little break before we just in with two feet tomorrow with Algebra skills and concepts! I sent the Family Letter for Unit 10 home this afternoon so be on the lookout!!

During science we experimented with weights effect on the movement of the vehicle! Yesterday we had a group discussion and predicted what sort of effect different weights may have on the vehicle. We also talked about different kinds of forces that we are familiar with.

Rather than keeping our reflections individualized, I wanted the students to talk about what they had seen with their team. After all, they worked together; why not reflect together? Share what they each had seen and maybe find out something you hadn't noticed before or gain a different perspective on what you thought happened. 

I overhead so many great discussions today!

Ethan, Jake, George and Shane had great comments about the INERTIA of the vehicle! It was fantastic hearing the unit vocabulary going around.

These guys actually changed where they attached the string in order to solve a problem they came across in letting their weight fall. It was great hearing how they supported 

why they wanted to change where it was attached. 

Cassie and Kaya went ABOVE AND BEYOND to track their vehicle, and the 

weight added, by time rather than by a 1- 5 scale! 

Great discoveries were everywhere today!

Tomorrow, not only, is the last day for us to visit the Book Fair, but also FAMILY NIGHT! Come on in and take a look around with your student.

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening :)

Monday, Day 6

Homework:

Finish packet and STUDY!!

We are going to the Book Fair tomorrow again as a class but this time to BUY! If you still have it, feel free to bring back your wish list so you can make sure you get what you were hoping for :)

The packet is a great study tool for the Unit 9 ASSESSMENT TOMORROW! Everyone did a great job in class today, but a little extra review never hurt!

During science we had a large group discussion about force! So many of the kids had so many great things to say about different types of force and how adding weight would affect the movement of the vehicle. Jake suggested that if there were too much weight that it would bring the vehicle to a stop!

Don't forget to send back the Challenger permission slip and consent/release form if 

you have not done so already!! 

Friday, Day 5

Remember the Unit 9 assessment is TUESDAY! 

I had organized seven stations to practice the skills we have been learning for the past 2 weeks.

AWESOME collaboration during stations!

Station 1- Coordinate Planes: Graphing and Labeling Points

Station 2- Find the Area of a Square

Station 3- Reflecting points over the Axis

Station 4- Area of Triangles

Station 5- Identify the Ordered Pair

Station 6- Find the Volume (with given diameters)

Station 7- Find the diameters (L, W and H) and solve for Volume

I saw so much great focus on practice of old skills in addition to the new skills!!

IXL sections for this unit are R.1, R.3, 4, R.6, B.16, B.19, B. 23 and B.25 

for continued practice at home! 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

Thursday, Day 4

Homework:

Study link 9.9

Finding Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Math Boxes if unfinished from class

The Rectangular Prisms page is just a little extra practice for when the kids get home! Most finished the Study Link in class and we thought it would be good for them to work with volume just a bit more. Friday I have a Station Day planned so students can move around the classroom during the Math period and work with different aspects of the unit!
And just in case:
Area = l x w
Volume = (l x w) x h

We were able to preview the Book Fair this afternoon and are very excited for our buying day next Tuesday!!

Classroom Expectations

Since last fall, I have been working with the Maine Science Partnership learning strategies to help deepen discussions around science. Part of those strategies include creating expectations that the students will be held to as they move through the grades. Now that I am working with a classroom, I am so excited to be able to apply what I have been learning all year.

Tomorrow I will be sharing with the students my expectations. My expectations are in place to support learning and help with the transition to my teaching; it is important to me that everyone to knows my expectations are the same as Mrs. Daniel's in order to maintain and respectful learning environment. 

Next week we getting more into our Motion and Design unit, not with a new build but applying different forces to our vehicles! As a class we will also be talking more about our predictions for the experiment, observations we noted and how the results differed, if they did so, from our predictions! The discussion we will have should help the student's get their thoughts organized and lead to thoughtful writing products!

I am very excited about digging deeper and looking forward to hearing their thoughts!

Wednesday, Day 3

Homework:

Study Link 9.8

Math boxes (9.8) pg. 323

Our preview of the Scholastic Book Fair is TOMORROW. Our day to buy is Tuesday, March 25!!

Don't forget- going to dinner at Governor's tonight helps support OTES!!

Tuesday, Day 2

Homework:

Study Links 9.6 and 9.7 - two great area practice pages!

Science today brought on a new build challenge!! Everyone had to create a vehicle from a black and white technical drawing. Difficulties in perspective challenged many of the groups; having only top and side views block some of the finer details. Part of the activity became trial and error to find out what needed to be changed in order for the car to run properly!

Nick and Kyle working together to organize
 the parts necessary for the new build

Kaya and Cassie did a great job
"dividing and conquering" to complete the goal 

I heard some great problem-solving conversations!!

Shane, Jake and Ethan showing a great team effort...
with a few laughs along the way!!

Yesterday we finished our read aloud, Breathe by Cliff McNish, that Mrs. Daniel had started. I am in the process of finding an exciting new read for us!!

Monday, Day 1

Homework:

Study Link 9.5 

Math Boxes, pg 311, if not completed in class

Section 9.5 teaches finding the area of a Triangle using the Rectangle Method or the Takeaway method, and based on what is used in the MS/HS we modified to make the lesson the most beneficial for the kids! Finding the base, by counting across, and the height, using the angle opposite the base, and multiplying by 1/2.

There is another Mystery Message that helps students practice their plotting on a coordinate plane! This is something they will get credit for when returned!! This isn't an overnight assignment, but we'd like to see them back after a week or so. 

From the vehicles we built on Friday, everyone drew a technical drawing! These drawings needed to be as detailed as possible because they should, essentially, be directions for someone to follow to build the identical vehicle!

Just ONE of the great examples of details,
even down to the grooves of the tires!!

Governor's dinner Wednesday, the 19th! 10% of the profits will help us :) 
Report cards were sent home this afternoon, so be on the lookout!
Happy St Patricks Day everyone!! 

Friday, Day 6

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming up quickly! Flyers are going home today so take a peek and see what it has in store for us!! Our preview time is next Thursday, March 20, and our time to make purchases is Tuesday, March 25 at 1 pm! 

Family Dessert Night is on March 26 from 5- 7. 

The Fair will also be open the 24- 26 from 3- 5!

After gathering our materials for our vehicles, the time to build has finally arrived!! The students were able to use their own creative designs in order to meet the first challenge of moving at least 100cm after having only 20 minutes to create and build their design. 

We made sure to point out that pushing the car is the unbalanced force we have been talking about in regards to Newton's First Law...

Ms LaFrance's class was up first for their build:

They've got their frame!

Getting started...

...The vehicles had no motion until the student's applied motion by pushing their car!

The 3 Orange Moustaches adjusting their wheels.

Here are some of the first shots of the build from Mrs. Daniel's group: 

Organizing parts for the first build!

Even planning can be messy!

I love seeing all the great team work!!

On your mark, get set, GO!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

Wednesday, Day 4

Homework:

Study Link pg. 203

If unfinished from class, Math Boxes pg 303

For extra practice (bonus work), Plotting a Hidden Message

In science today we put together our teams and made the first moves towards our Motion and Design vehicles!! Everyone was very excited going around getting all the parts and double checking their "shopping lists" that they had enough of each item. I even spotted someone starting his technical drawing! Cannot wait to move forward with this project!!

The kids doing some"shopping"

Making sure they take exactly the right amount of parts

Making their team name their own!

Remember- an object won't get started with an unbalanced force. 

Stay safe during the snowstorm :)

Tuesday, Day 4

Homework:

If unfinished from class, Math Boxes pg. 299

Study Link 9.2
Extra Practice (and for extra credit!) - Randi Roo,  Silver Swan or Draw a T- Rex

We had Art right off the bat today and everyone continued getting ready to rock the Art Show Friday at OTHS! 

In math today, we were able to dig deeper into Coordinate Planes by practicing adjusting the ordered pair to alter the height and width of a sailboat by adjusting the coordinate pairs. Be sure to connect the points as you plot them!! Don't wait until the end to connect the dots!

Monday, Day 2

Homework:

If not finished in class, Math boxes, Journal pg 295

Study Link 9.1 

Optional- T- Rex coordinate graph (from Math is Fun)

We introduced Newton's 3 Laws of Motion to both classes today. I found a great video from Science 360 showing how the first law is represented in football. Here is the link: http://science360.gov/obj/video/70fadaa8-c3d4-4132-ba1f-c98be5caeb14/science-nfl-football-newtons-first-law-motion if you want to check it out at home! It is also linked on the Porta Portal under Motion and Design! 

Tomorrow we'll be separating into groups and will go "shopping" for the K'nex pieces we'll need to build our vehicles!!